From left: Straitline Canvas general manager, Patrick Currie; TR Group area maintenance manager – Manawatū/Taranaki, Brenton Wallace; Straitline Canvas operations manager, William Rice; TR Group new truck build manager, Scott Penny; and Straitline Canvas sales manager, Raymond Williams.

A company with a reputation for innovation has begun a two-year trial of truck curtains made from 35% recycled PVC fabric.

Palmerston North-based Straitline Canvas has partnered with TR Group to initially trial the curtains on one of TR’s fleet of rental trucks. General manager Patrick Currie says TR Group was chosen because installing the curtains on a rental truck would ensure they are put through their paces in a real-world setting with different users.

Made by German company Mehler to the same standard as typical 8556 PVC (by far the most-used side-curtain fabric in New Zealand), Transport 9000 Eco has a minimum of 35% recycled content.

The base cloth is made from 100% recycled PET (soft drink bottles), and the grey interior PVC coating has been manufactured using a minimum of 50% recycled PVC. The exterior PVC coating is 100% new white PVC to retain standard UV resistance.

The recycled fabric is estimated to give a 14% reduction in carbon emissions when compared with regular 8556.

Straitline imports all its PVC fabric from Europe.

Mehler developed the recycled product in compliance with European REACH regulations regarding the use of chemicals. REACH is an acronym for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It has a very wide scope as it applies to all chemical substances manufactured, imported, placed on the market or used within the European Community.

“It’s very strict,” says Patrick. “Anything that goes into the market over there has to comply with the regulations. That sits well with us because one of the things we are obsessed with at Straitline is quality – our customers don’t want anything second- rate. Our mission statement is, ‘We make transport operators’ lives easier.’ We do this by providing products designed for end users, a seamless sales process and a human touch. We identify opportunities to improve sustainability and reduce our environmental impact, and everything we do challenges the status quo.”

TR Group new truck build manager Scott Penny says sustainability is one of TR’s core values.

“For a long time, we’ve had a working relationship with Straitline and when Patrick and the team came to us and recommended this product, we thought it would be a good opportunity to trial it and get it into the New Zealand market.”

Scott says TR Group is always trying to reduce its environmental impact and lower its carbon footprint. It has invested in hydrogen-powered trucks that will soon be available on the New Zealand market, and recently put its 50th electric truck into service.

“Straitline is a fantastic company to work with, and what sets them apart is their willingness to help us achieve our goals.

“We can see a real benefit in adopting this new recycled product. There’s going to be less wastage and product going to landfill, and if the trial goes well, we will look at using this product throughout our fleet because we think it’s something our customers will embrace.”

This is not the first sustainability initiative Straitline has been involved in – it also has a re-use programme for old truck curtains and offers New Zealand-made recycled plastic pallet corner boards.